
Pediatric Cardiology Associates (PCA)
Main Office Phone: 703-876-8410/Fax: 703-876-8417
Shady Grove Phone: 301-424-8484/Fax: 301-424-1835
About Us
Pediatric Cardiology Associates (PCA) specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease for pediatric and adult patients. The most common type of pediatric heart disease is congenital heart disease (CHD), meaning that children are born with it. Congenital heart defects can exist in adults, but are still considered CHD if the adult was born with the disease.
Our focus is on the care of the fetus, newborn, child, adolescent and adult with congenital or suspected congenital and acquired heart disease. In some cases, congenital heart disease can be diagnosed before a baby is born. Six of our physicians have an expertise in fetal cardiology and imaging of the fetal heart and cardiovascular physiology.
We pride ourselves on clinical excellence provided in an atmosphere of compassion and trust. Take great care of the patient, every day and in every way, is our mission. We know that visiting a pediatric cardiologist for the first time can be stressful. Our dedicated staff helps patients feel comfortable by helping them understand the evaluation process as well as their plan of care. It is our goal to provide the best in cardiac care to our patients and educate their entire family.
In order to better serve our patients, we maintain multiple convenient clinic locations throughout the Virginia and Maryland area.
Learn more about what to expect at your first visit
Everyone is born with a small hole between the upper chambers of the heart. The hole typically closes a few weeks after birth. However, for 20 percent of the population the hole remains open. This condition is called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Most people living with a PFO are unaware of it. It is usually only discovered after an otherwise healthy adult suffers a stroke.
Our Medical Director Dr. Jim Thompson subspecializes in interventional cardiology and is an expert in implanting PFO devices to address structural heart problems. He has performed device closure procedures more than 1,200 times spanning nearly two decades. He is currently conducting a clinical trial using a less invasive device called NobleStitch, which has preliminarily been shown to have better closure rates than traditional devices. Visit our Newsroom to learn more about this innovative procedure.


- Dr. Sherif Tawfik specializes in diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization for babies, children, and adults with congenital heart disease.
- Dr. Sharon Karr, Dr. Jin Park, Dr. Annette Ansong and Dr. Sarah Chambers specialize in the evaluation and management of the fetal heart during pregnancy.

Our patients and referring providers can take comfort in knowing that:
- we have demonstrated our commitment to providing quality testing for the diagnosis of heart disorders and disease.
- we have been carefully evaluated on all operational aspects considered relevant by medical experts in the field of echocardiography.
We are proud of this designation and appreciate your trust in us.
Our Locations
Meet Our Clinicians
Our local clinicians are highly trained to meet the individual needs of patients. Learn about their training, certifications, and other credentials by viewing their individual biographies.
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